Page 75 of Ravage

“It’s just the guys.”

“I know. It just had me worried.” I lowered my head. “Was it bad?”

“Could’ve been worse.”

“Did they get into my files?”

“Can’t say for sure, but I can text Coop and find out.”

“Please, and if they did get into them, tell him to leave them on my desk.”

Ravage nodded and reached for his phone. He texted Coop, then put his phone back on the coffee table. “Done.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

I turned and started back to my bedroom. I made it two whole steps before stopping. I turned back to him, and his eyes went directly to mine. The intensity in his stare gave me pause, but it didn’t stop me from asking, “Do you mind if I stay in here with you for a while?”

“You don’t have to ask, Em. That’s why I’m here.”

I started toward the couch, and I wasn’t sure what I was about to say until the words were already out of my mouth. “Would it be breaking the rules if you held me for a little while?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he lifted the blanket and shifted farther back on the couch, making room for me to lie down next to him. My heart gave a little flutter as I eased onto the sofa and curled into him, chest to chest, tucking my head under his chin. Once I was settled, he eased the blanket over me and rested his arm over my waist.

He was warm, and he smelled so damn good. He always did, and being in his arms made the rest of the world disappear. There were no thoughts of men breaking into my studio, the scary noises, the fear of being harmed or even killed. It all faded away until there was nothing left but him and me. I closed my eyes, and for the first time all night, I felt like I could breathe.

I don’t know how long we stayed like that. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to think about tomorrow, the rules we’d made, or the things we weren’t supposed to do. I just wanted this. His arms around me, his heartbeat beneath my cheek, and the soothing sound of his breathing.

After we’d been lying there awhile, I finally gathered the courage to ask, “Do you know how long I’ve wanted you to hold me like this?”

His body went completely still. I wasn’t brave enough to look at him, so I kept my face tucked against his chest as I added, “When I was younger, I just thought of you as Jax’s best friend.”

He let out a little breath but didn’t respond.

He just lay there, holding me as I told him, “I was a little scared of you, so I did my best to stay out of the way.”

“You were scared of me?”

“Yeah, I was, but in my defense, everyone was… You were pretty intimidating back then.”

“I’m not anymore?”

“You are, and you know it,” I scoffed. “But it’s different now.”

“How is it different?” he asked.

“It’s hard to explain.” I kept my head tucked down as I added, “But then things changed… I’d just turned sixteen and decided to sneak into one of the club parties. It was late, and most of the guys were already wasted. None of them noticed when I snuck a beer from the cooler and slipped outside. I knew Jax would have a meltdown if he caught me, but I didn’t care. I was going through my rebellious stage, and I thought I was really doing something.”

That earned me a chuckle.

“I sat by the old tree out back and watched the guys act like idiots. It was before Ava, and you were so cool and handsome. There were girls all over you.” I felt him shift beneath me. “There was a girl in the parking lot, arguing with some guy. I didn’t know them, but he hit her, and he hit her hard. Everyone heard it, but you were the one who went after him.”

I could still remember how fierce he looked when he took off for the parking lot. Everyone froze and just watched him charge over to the guy and pummel him. “You lost it on him. I mean, don’t get me wrong. He deserved it, one hundred percent, but you scared me a little. I thought you might kill the guy.”

I kept my voice low and steady, almost a whisper, as I continued, “But then you scooped the girl up in your arms and carried her over to one of the picnic tables. You were so gentle and careful with her. You made sure she was okay and even helped her clean the blood off her cheek. You told her she deserved better and to steer clear of that asshole… I’m pretty sure she fell in love with you right then and there.”

I paused, letting my words linger for a moment before I added, “I did, too.”